Yinka Kolawole
In fulfilment of his promise to fully reinstate all organs of students’ unionism in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede-led administration has inaugurated Students’ Electoral Commission and Students’ Electoral Petition Commission. Speaking on behalf of the university management, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Professor Isiaka Aransi, urged OAU student activists to emulate their counterparts in developed world where student leaders engage management in dialogue in order to meet the academic and welfare needs of fellow students. This, according to him, is done through the unions investment drives, provision of scholarships, work and study programmes, among others.
A release by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that Aransi advised the students not to be confrontational and aluta-focused in their approach. Rather, they should employ constructive engagement and dialogue to resolve issues with the management. Restating his commitment and pragmatic demonstration of his administration’s determination to fully reinstate students’ unionism on OAU Campus, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, mandated the Division of Students’ Affairs to set in motion concrete steps to achieve installation of vibrant and more articulate students unionism.
He enjoined the students to see unionism as an incubating stage of socio-political leadership where they could learn rudiments of how the people, states and nations are governed.
The vice-chancellor therefore charged Aransi to do all within his power to sensitise the generality of students on the need to see and nurture the union without any rancour or fracas.
Highlighting the essence of inaugurating the two electoral bodies, Aransi, stated that the expectation of the university community is for the Electoral Commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections, while the Electoral Petition Commission is to handle all complaints arising from the election, with high sense of duty and decency, without fear or favour.
Present at the occasion were the deans of faculties, students across departments and members of the university community.
